Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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2005. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the implementation of initiatives to promote the recruitment and retention of women in An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41953/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The report of Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended that An Garda Síochána should reflect the diversity of Irish society, not only in gender and ethnicity, but also in terms of socio-economic, educational and geographical backgrounds and stated that An Garda Síochána would need to develop recruitment strategies which reach a more diverse intake. An Garda Síochána has since established the Garda National Diversity and Integration Unit (GNDIU) and published an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy Statement and Action Plan.The number of women in An Garda Síochána has steadily increased and over the past decade the number of female Superintendents, Inspectors and Sergeants has doubled in the organisation.

I would like to commend publicjobs and An Garda Síochána for the innovative and creative recruitment campaign they ran in February of this year which has resulted in strong and varied interest. Over 6,700 applications were received as part of the competition, and 32% were female.

The Garda Commissioner and I are committed to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána and ensuring that all communities can see themselves reflected in our policing service.